(Near P.O.V)

'Mello, you never cease to amaze me.' I thought idly, remembering today's events. I knew it was him. It couldn't have been anyone else. Only he was smart enough to think up a plan so absolute.

The blonde had obtained the notebook… he had beaten me to it. Even more, he figured out who Kira was, I was sure of it. And now, with his help – though I'm sure it was unintentional – so had I. I was thoroughly impressed by him, now. It seemed I was right to assume he was better suited for L's successor than I.

He had made off with the notebook by using me and my people. He had put the notebook in a missile, and launched it at the same time as his helicopter flew off. Of course, this put the second L at a disadvantage. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and had no time to think. In the end, it was too late to follow the missile after the copter exploded. Soon afterwards, Mello struck my base of operations. More than half my people were gone now, and now I had to work with the few I had at the moment.

I'm surprised he didn't come after me, though. But then… he didn't exactly know my real name.

Halle Lidner, Steven Gevanni, and Anthony Rester. They were all I had at the moment. Probably because they were the only ones to not have their real names leaked. Or maybe Mello left them alive. Sometimes I still wonder.

Once everything had been cleaned, I contacted the second L. I informed him of the attack on the SPK, and even went as far as telling him that Mello was the one behind it all. I told him about Wammys, and that Mello had once attended there. However, I kept Matt and Linda to myself. I also knew that there was no way for the second L to get a hold of what Mello truly looked like, since I had the only known photo of him. I was using it to track down Mello. To find him and to have him help me with my investigation. However, it would seem he was already doing so. Albeit, he didn't really know he was doing so. But I wouldn't turn down free help.

When my call to the second L was over, I pulled out Mello's picture once more. It had been years since it was taken. I wondered how different he looked then as opposed to his younger self.

I suppose I hadn't been too discreet in staring at the photo.

"So, you gonna tell us more about that guy?" Gevanni spoke up. "You have us looking for him throughout the states, then you call it off once he shows himself. Honestly, what's so special about him?"

Though I didn't mean to sound rude, I simply said, "Because Mello can replace all of you in a heartbeat and get the job done twice as fast. You saw what he can do, and I know for a fact none of you are able to do the same. This is why you follow the commands of a teenager. It's a little pathetic, really."

"So then," Rester began, "why call off the search once he's shown himself? Why not take him in and force him to work beside you?"

"Because that's not the way he works." I paused, placing the picture back into my pocket. "It's not the way L worked either. Unless he truly needs the help, he will work alone, or manipulate others to do his bidding. Mello doesn't want his hands dirty, and he doesn't want to follow orders, so he uses his charm and tact to make others do what he says. L was different, though much the same way. He did not have the charm that Mello carries, nor the fear inducing tact. No, L did the same thing I did. He wasn't afraid to ask for help, nor did he care for blood on his hands were he to get truly involved into a case. This is why he was willing to use a fake L in his place to provoke Kira. He didn't care about his deeds, just that it got him closer to his goal."

I suddenly remembered my kidnapping. How I was saved by the blonde. "Mello is much different.

"He will not stand for the blood on his hands. He cares too deeply for human life. At least, from what I remember. In fact, there was a time when he found a bird's nest in a tree with unhatched eggs back at the Wammy house. He went to that tree every day to see if they'd hatch, and until the day that they did he would come back disappointed. He treasures the lives of others, but would happily give his to the one's he cares for most. He is as complex as they get, and I believe it's what this case truly needs."

The room fell silent now. Halle hadn't said anything to me, but even she went quiet. I suppose it had something to do with me speaking so fondly of someone. Lord knows I never did with anyone else. Then again, no one else deserved my respect.

Finally, Halle spoke. "So, you admire him."

Again, memories flashed before me of all the times Mello and Matt had been there for others. How they were there for each other… how they were there for me.

I turned to her. "And why not? You have to admit, even if it cost us most of our people, Mello's plan was brilliant. He outsmarted the second L, something I know I could never do right on the spot. He thinks ahead of the game, and when something goes wrong he can think of a way to make it better than before."

I turned back to the desk, pulling out a deck of cards. I had begun to make a tower when I continued on. "Another boy at the orphanage, Torrik, learned of Mello's little bird friends. To get on his nerves, he knocked down the nest, killing the chicks. Mello… was heartbroken. To say the least. However, pain and anguish can fuel aggression and wrath." I looked at Halle. "The two things we all shared in common with L before he died, was that we were childish, and hated to lose. How we dealt with this, was always different.

"I reacted almost the exact way L would, by proving them wrong. The difference? I was usually afraid to go against superiors… until now.

"Another boy at the Wammy house, Matt, would usually shrug it off and occupy himself with a game to pass the time.

"But Mello? He was a hell to be reckoned with. He hated, hated, to lose. To be proven wrong, to be cheated, tortured, or even talked down to. Not many were safe around his wrath, and that included L himself. Though, knowing the blonde, he wouldn't deliberately hurt someone he respected so much. I believe that most of his rage attacks were pure blindness, but there were times he could control himself."

Gevanni stepped in. "I suppose this… Torrik didn't last long."

"Mello had to be locked into his room for an hour. He broke Torrik's arm and was about to break the other until L stepped in and pulled him away. No one really forgot that day, but I think he deserved it. I choose to put the positives into Mello's past since it wasn't always what they seemed to be."

"With all due respect, Near." Rester stepped up. "But I'm not sure we should allow him anywhere close to us in the future. What you're telling us, and what we're seeing, are two completely different people."

"You're correct. It is the second reason I called you off the search for him. This is not the Mello I grew up with. This is a man who's finally reached his breaking point, and now can't even remember who he is. All he knows right now is that he wants power. I would even go as far as saying he has lost his humanity. He once valued life more than anything, but now doesn't hesitate to kill even his own father."

The room went quiet again, but this time it was more from shock.

I spun my chair around after having my card tower fall. Looking at the three, I sighed a bit. "This is not the Mello I remember. And until the one I do remember pops up, I suggest we stay clear of him."

"Understood." Rester answered for the three.

I nodded once. Looking at the ground now, I spoke one last time. "I fear for his sanity. I fear for how long it has been gone. And I hope he can get it back before Kira has a chance to find and murder him. Although, if he winds up dead before then…" I looked up at them. A new determination in my eyes. "… I suppose I'll confront Kira myself. Kill him with my bare hands if I have to."

"Near…" Halle whispered.

The other two only backed away a bit. I could see the fear in their eyes. And I was dead serious about it, too.

If I found out Mello was killed by Kira. I'd physically find him, and strangle him myself. Because, for all the times Mello had saved me, I suppose it was the only way I could repay him.

Kira would NOT win this.